Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday launched the state’s Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, or Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme, which provides a one-gram gold ring to eligible babies born in government healthcare facilities.
The scheme was launched at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, where Vijay personally handed over gold rings to newborn beneficiaries and interacted with their mothers. The scheme is being implemented in Tamil Nadu and covers eligible babies born at government hospitals and primary health centres.
Under the scheme, every newborn will get a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring. The government has allocated Rs 755.83 crore for this programme's annual expenses.
The scheme was initially announced as one of Vijay's electoral promises before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. It takes its name from the maternal uncle, or Thaimaman, who gives gifts to a newborn as part of a Tamil family tradition.
"Thaai Maaman Thanga Modhiram Thittam" Inauguration ❤️ — The most Unique Sceme coming from the State of TN👏🏻
— VCD (@VCDtweets) September 28, 2026
Rooted in Tamil Tradition, driven by care. Annan CM #ThalapathyVijay fulfills a major promise by gifting 1-gram gold rings to newborns in Govt. hospitals. Connecting…
Who is eligible for The Gold Ring?
The scheme covers babies born in Tamil Nadu government hospitals and primary health centres. It is effective retrospectively from June 22, 2026 and eligible babies born from that date onwards can get the benefit.
The mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu. Beneficiaries must also be registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and have a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID.
The benefit is not restricted by the gender of the baby or birth order, according to details reported about the scheme.
The government has procured around 1.28 lakh gold rings for the first roll-out. Each ring has a unique serial number and is packaged in tamper-proof packaging for tracking and distribution.
The government has planned for 4.41 lakh government-facility deliveries to be covered under the scheme over a year.
Why has Tamil Nadu introduced the scheme?
The state government has said the initiative is intended to encourage families to choose government healthcare facilities for childbirth and build public confidence in government hospitals and primary health centres.
The scheme also draws upon the cultural significance of the maternal uncle in Tamil families. Traditionally, the Thaimaman is responsible for welcoming a newborn and providing gifts to the child.
By viewing the tradition as a government welfare measure, the state has linked the cultural practice to the goal of encouraging institutional deliveries in public healthcare facilities.
Health Minister K Arunraj had said earlier that the government wanted expectant mothers to feel confident about choosing government hospitals for safe and hygienic deliveries, with the gold ring as an additional benefit.
The government has also established mechanisms for tracking the rings and their distribution. District-level monitoring committees headed by Collectors have been formed to oversee implementation, inventory, and distribution.
First phase covers 1.28 Lakh Rings
The first phase is about 1.28 lakh rings and the government has already done procurement for the first group of beneficiaries.
The rings are 22-carat gold and are to be distributed to babies born from June 22 onwards. This programme is carried out through Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation and government healthcare facilities.
The procurement process had attracted attention before the launch as jewellery companies participated in the tender for supply of the rings.
Joyalukkas was the lowest bidder as it offered a service charge of one paisa per ring above the prevailing gold price. Kalyan Jewellers agreed to the lowest bid and then the supply contract was divided between the two companies in a 70:30 ratio. The quoted service charge covered the additional cost of the supply plus the prevailing gold price was the main part of the procurement cost.
The first batch of 1.28 lakh rings was estimated to cost about Rs 220 crore and the total budget for the whole scheme is Rs 755.83 crore.
Scheme Also Draws Political Debate
The gold ring programme has generated political discussion in Tamil Nadu, particularly regarding the cost of the initiative and procurement process.
Opposition members have also questioned the move to use the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation to buy gold rings and the tender process. These are political criticisms and do not establish wrongdoing in the implementation of the scheme. The state government has carried out the programme and monitoring and procurement mechanisms are in place.
The scheme is one of Vijay's major welfare projects after the 2026 elections. And it has been rolled out as a part of a promise made by Vijay before the party came to power.
With the first phase already prepared and the annual allocation covering more than 4 lakh government-facility deliveries, the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam is going to become a statewide welfare programme.
For eligible families, the benefit is straightforward: a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring for a newborn delivered at a suitable government healthcare facility. For the government, the larger purpose is to encourage institutional delivery and trust in public health, while adhering to a common Tamil cultural context in the welfare programme.
